Pipeline: Spero Health Opens Clinics in Two States; New Eating Disorder Treatment Offerings from Monte Nido, Alsana

Spero Health expands footprint with three new clinics

Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment provider Spero Health has opened the doors to three new facilities in the South.

Two of those clinics are located in central Kentucky in the towns of Clarkson and Lebanon, both of which accept Kentucky Medicaid and a number of commercial insurance plans. The clinics join over 25 others across Kentucky, where almost 2,000 state residents died last year due to drug overdoses.

“These numbers are a somber reminder that our work to reach those struggling with substance use disorder needs to be swift and comprehensive” Spero Health CEO Steve Priest said in a press release in regards to the Kentucky clinic openings. “It is critical our communities have local resources giving them immediate access to addiction treatment services, now more than ever, it’s simply a matter of life and death.”

Spero Health has also opened a clinic in Galax, Virginia, which is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains along the North Carolina state line.

Spero’s Galax location accepts most commercial plans along with Virginia Medicaid.

“In Galax we want to bring immediate relief to families, friends and neighbors who are struggling with this disease by offering immediate access to high quality care close to home,” Priest said in a separate press release.

Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, Spero Health operates over 60 locations in states that include Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee, in addition to Kentucky and Virginia. The provider is privately controlled by the Heritage Group, Health Velocity Capital, South Central, Inc. and Frist Cressey Ventures.

Ideal Option opens new SUD treatment clinic

Ideal Option continues to expand services in Arkansas with the opening of its new location in Springdale.

The outpatient clinic, which is situated in the Ozark Mountains in the northwestern corner of the state, treats for such SUDs as those related to fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin and alcohol use.

Most forms of insurance are accepted by the Springdale location, including Medicaid, Medicare and BlueCross BlueShield.

“There is a desperate need for addiction medicine providers in Arkansas and particularly those who are equipped to manage patients dependent on fentanyl, a notoriously difficult substance to stop using,” Ideal Option Chief Medical Officer Brian Dawson said in a press release.

Headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, Ideal Option operates over 70 office-based treatment clinics across 10 states. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) drugs like suboxone are provided to Ideal Option patients as part of their care journey.

Ideal Option is financially backed by BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners and Varsity Healthcare Partners.

Monte Nido creates gender-inclusive services for eating disorders

Monte Nido & Affiliates is rolling out a new gender-inclusive eating disorder treatment program in Conroe, Texas.

The program is located at Clementine The Woodlands, which the Miami-based Monte Nido created for adolescents in 2019.

The new program at Clementine, which is located outside of Houston, is situated on an 11-acre campus. The campus also houses gender-specific treatment for adolescent girls ages 11-17 who are suffering from conditions including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and/or exercise addiction.

“With the rise of adolescent eating disorders – particularly due to the pandemic – we have expanded care so that more teens can receive proper treatment,” Monte Nido & Affiliates CEO Candy Henderson said in a press release. “By expanding our Clementine programming in The Woodlands to all genders, we achieve our mission to help more people realize their healthy selves.”

Monte Nido & Affiliates operates 44 programs in 13 states. Along with Clementine, the provider’s other treatment brands include the namesake Monte Nido, Walden Behavioral Care, Rosewood Centers and Oliver-Pyatt Centers.

Monte Nido & Affiliates is currently owned by Levine Leichtman Capital Partners LLC, who in October were reported to have begun looking for a buyer for the provider.

Alsana unveils new eating disorder treatment program

Eating disorder treatment provider Alsana has welcomed patients to its new program in Huntsville, Alabama.

Alsana Huntsville Residential Treatment Center (RTC) houses 14 beds on a 2.3 acre campus, with services provided to all genders. Activities such as yoga, badminton and walking are offered during group sessions,

Based in Thousand Oaks, California, Alsana integrates medical, nutritional and therapeutic care services to treat a variety of eating, feeding and co-occurring disorders.

The Huntsville location is Alsana’s tenth RTC program. In addition to Alabama, Alsana operates programs in California and Missouri.

The Huntsville program — according to the company — is following pandemic safety protocols while treating patients, and will emphasize care outreach to underrepresented communities.

“I believe the Covid-19 pandemic has revealed a significant need for eating disorder treatment services which have required that we expand our programs to meet the moment,” Alsana CEO Gayle Devin said in a press release. “As a clients-first eating recovery community, Alsana has kept all levels of care safe and open when clients need help the most. Huntsville RTC will mean even greater access for marginalized communities, and this is only the beginning.”

Autism Learning Partners opens new ABA center

Autism Learning Partners (ALP) has opened a new location in Hickory, North Carolina.

The center, which is located in the western central part of the Tar Heel State, provides applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ABA is widely considered to be a gold standard of autism care.

ALP operates across the country in 19 states, including North Carolina. In addition to Hickory, ALP’s other North Carolina centers are in Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro.

“Our staff are committed to supporting individuals and the families we serve to live more fulfilling lives,” ALP CEO Gina Chang said in a press release for the new Hickory center. “The ongoing collaboration with community partners has been instrumental in sustaining this success across environments.”

ALP’s services are provided in schools and homes as well as by telehealth. The company, which is owned by FFL Partners, accepts a variety of insurances and Medicaid.